has anyone had one breast removed because of cancer and CHOSEN to have the other removed as well as a precautionary measure ??? Pros and cons?????? sandy

Funnily enough it was the breast cancer nurse that said that it is something I think about before i have the masectomy. The surgeon was there when this was discussed but the surgeon made no comment so I dont know their feelings to this. I have had a lumpectomy and axillary clearance but tumour was bigger than anticipated (8cm) and is in 20% of lymph nodes. I am 47 and married and am concerned about to do or not to do. I am having chemo now and dont want to have to repeat all this in a few years!!! Had the clearance 8 weeks ago, find the exercises really help with pain and stiffness. Sandy

I was diagnosed with DCIS in March 2010 and with horrid family history chose to have bilateral mastectomy in July 10. I made my decision probably 23 years ago when my Mum at 48 had her second breast cancer - her 1st was at 36. As a daughter, I decided that I was not going to put my children through what I watched my Mum go through, nor did not want to have to fight like she did. She is now 71 and has been cancer free for over 20 years which has been the biggest inspiration for us all. The decision for me was "easy" and I felt a weight was taken from my shoulders as i had always viewed my boobs as ticking timebombs. However no matter how much i was prepared, it is an experience that you cannot know exactly how you will feel and how you and your husband will deal with it. I have days that i wish my boobs felt like they used to and that my chest wasn't numb. I look and feel my reconstructed boobs and wonder if I will ever really get used to them! BUT I never regret the decision I made! Is such a personal thing and without a crystal ball, we have to make decisions based on what is in our own head and heart and how WE feel. The feelings will change from day to day and year to year, but at the end of the day it is our own body and regardless of what options we take, we will learn to live with it for the rest of our LONG healthy lives! Keep sharing your thoughts as there is much experience within this network who will listen and happily share with you. Bye Leanne x

Hi Julia, I got the same advice from my surgeon...she told me removing the other breast was pointless (even though it has benign cysts). She told me that they keep at very close eye on it and that there was no need to remove the 'healthy' breast. Yes the pain from the lymph node removal is terrible...shoulder and arm...but it does get better in time. I'm sorry I dont have the answers...for what its worth, I just wanted to let you know that I got the same response from my surgeon, cheers Celeste

I appreciate the reply Thanks Sandy

I havent got family history, so not so much as risk. But I also dont want to be doing what I am doing now again, ie. masectomy, chemo and radiation. Does anyone know if the radiation is as physically exhausting as the chemo??

masectomy | BCNA Online Network

17 Replies

helena
Member
14 years ago
hi sandy,

i had lobular cancer diagnosed Dec 2010, after lumpectomy it was found to be invasive loular cancer and i went on to have chemo and mastectomy X 2. the breast surgeon was happy with the suggestion of bilateral but the plastic surgeon was a bit suprised. I had expanders and implants as that was the simplest surgery. the last surgery was june and i was back at work 4 days a week in july.

no way i would want to do chemo again, yuck, bald, sick, eyelashes gone etc. with fibrosystic breasts anyway i would have ben panicing about every new lump- and I had lots of them.

the mastectomy was about what i expected but i felt that having both sides done did not make it twice as bad!

the plastic surgeon felt i would look better with more 'volume' as he did the reconstruction ("better to kick a goal than a point") and i have gone from a very small A cup to a C. No more padded bras!

went through all the treatment with a very positive attitude but now look back and do feel sorry for myself!~ in short very happy to ahve gone the double.

Helen